Pods at Toddington

Earlier in the month, work continued in the C&M shed on the Winchcombe running in board renewal
















as well as the modesty screen for the CRC gents toilet.



Last week a start was made at CRC and one of the modesty screen posts was installed. In addition, the two gateposts dug out from the Broadway station approach were delivered to CRC.

Some grouting of the edging slabs was carried out on P1; about a third has been done now.  The second post and the screen itself are now ready for installation in the near future.

This picture shows the completed RI board prior to installation yesterday at Winchcombe. 

 

The second RI board is now ready for its letters and is likely to go up next week.  These are surprisingly solid and heavy boards.

 

The letters are cast in aluminium from originals collected by a volunteer. Besides the more authentic chamfered look, these castings will last longer than the plywood used up to now.

 

 

 

Rod and Keith demolish some play furniture

 

The main job has been to prep the site for 2 new PODS (4 rooms) which are due to be delivered before Xmas, and for which there are already bookings made for January.  

 

The work has involved taking down the fence alongside the existing PODS and the car park and removing two items of the play furniture.   

 

 Note there is a new drain in the wrong place as a result of the recent sewerage works.

Hole for an additional manhole

 

New drain in the wrong place

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As now situated,  that drain will be covered by the building and the team has had to dig out for an inspection manhole some 6ft further out.  

 

Footprint of new pods at Toddington

Water pipe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The footprint of the PODS is marked in blue in the picture above left.  Above right the tap needs a new post as the present one is rotten, seen here supported by props.  The whole area is mushy clay and not easy to dig out for the concrete pads which will support the new building, all 7 tons of it.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, back in the shed at Wincombe, the replacement running in board was completed.

Mike, fighting the clay

Shuttering goes in

 

 

 

 

 A start was then made on the bases of the new pods by getting some shuttering into position.

 

The first base was concreted in, all under very inclement weather and with high winds.

Austen worked the mixer. As it didn't have its legs, a base of pallets also did the job.

Close of play yesterday afternoon shows the site of the new pods. The five right hand bases have been shuttered and concreted, the site cleared of playground furniture, and the wobbly tap at the front supported on some props.

 

Each concrete base will also have a concrete slab on top. These slabs are from the recent delivery from the school.

 

What gets bigger the more you take away?

A hole, of course!

And this is what 6 of the team dug at CRC. It's a big hole too.

There were 9 C&M members at work in all, with 3 of them back at the base at Winchcombe on supplementary duties such as painting the fence panels and further work on the refurbishment of the Winchcombe running in board.

AT CRC Pete, John, two Jims M and H met Rod and Terry.

 

The aim was to complete the digging of two post holes for the two cast iron gate posts removed from the Broadway drive.

 

The holes needed to be 3ft by 3ft by 3ft and they created a large amount of spoil. This had to be barrowed across the crossing to be tipped at the back of P2 near the bonfire pile.  A trip of 150 yards!

 

 

 

  

Progress on hole No.1, with a growing pile on the left waiting to be barrowed some distance away.

Rod and Terry get stuck in, with SDS drill and petrol driven auger in support.

Hole No.1 completed at last. It took two days to dig this hole alone, with a volume of 9cu ft extracted by fair means or foul..

The other 4 gang members at CRC attacked the old wire fence in the prickly Hawthorn with gusto. Two wooden posts, deeply embedded in lots of sturdy Hawthorn were also removed, with great difficulty.

This picture of P2 shows the arisings pile, which was also located 150 yards from where it was cut. Of course.

 

To give you an idea of the fence removal job, here are two gang members deeply embedded in the hedge trying to get to the root of the tree, and liberate the foot of the old fence posts for digging out.

You photographer stands at a safe distance from the prickles...

 

Here's the whole team of six (5) at CRC on the same side of the camera, staring at the one volunteer doing any work. Volunteer Jim H is behind the camera again. Here they have made a good start on big hole No.2.

In this final shot of the day hole No.2 is well on its way. It should be finished off next week, and with a bit of luck, see some fresh concrete in the bottom with the fixing bolts for a cast iron post.